The Winter Session of Parliament 2025 commenced on December 1 with a packed legislative agenda. PIB reported that 10 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha during the session, covering diverse sectors including financial markets, insurance, labour, education, atomic energy, and agriculture.
Among the most significant bills was a measure to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector. Previously, India had allowed up to 74% FDI in insurance companies. The proposed increase to 100% FDI aims to attract global insurance giants to fully own and operate insurance companies in India, potentially increasing insurance penetration — a metric where India lags significantly, with insurance premiums accounting for only about 4% of GDP compared to the global average of 7%.
The Securities Markets Code represented another landmark piece of legislation, seeking to consolidate three existing acts — the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956; the Depositories Act, 1996; and the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 — into a single comprehensive code. Consolidation is expected to reduce regulatory complexity, eliminate overlaps, remove redundant provisions, and create a unified legal framework for India's capital markets.
Other notable bills included: an amendment to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) proposing to extend the minimum guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 days per household per year; amendments to the Atomic Energy Act to allow private sector participation in nuclear power; and the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, which proposes to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC) with a new apex regulatory body.
The HECI Bill is particularly significant as it would fundamentally restructure higher education governance in India. Critics have raised concerns about potential centralisation and academic autonomy, while proponents argue it would create a more efficient single-window regulatory system.
This legislative package reflects the government's intent to liberalise key sectors, reform regulatory architecture, and boost employment during the winter session.